Celluloid covered metallic tube and method of making same



Aug. 8, 1933- H. c. LAGERBLADE CELLULOID COVERED METALLIC TUBE AND METHOD OF Filed Oct. 11. 1929 MAKING SAME l el'beriafiaygarb lade.

Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE CELLULOID COVERED METALLIC TUBE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Application October 11,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tubes and method of making the same. More particularly, it relates to a metallic tube covered with celluloid,and a method of making such a tube.

The invention is especially applicable to golf club shafts and their manufacture. Metallic golf club shafts have come into quite general use, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means for protecting such metallic shafts against corrosion. By providing such shafts with celluloid covering or sheathing, they will also have and retain a much more pleasing appearance than the plain metallic shaft.

In accordance with the present invention, a

' sheet of celluloid cut to the right taper is placed around the usual metallic tube or shaft and, while held securely thereon, is first heat treated so as to cause the sheet of celluloid to conform exactly to the metallic tube. Preferably, the

celluloid sheet is clamped around the tube during this step, with the edges of the sheet abutting one another, and after thus being heated, it is then chilled to set the celluloid. Next, the clamping means are removed and a reinforcing strip inserted between the metallic tube and the celluloid tube underneath the abutting edge portions of the celluloid, and the strip and said edge portions united by suitable celluloid cement. After the cement has been applied, the celluloid is again clamped around the metal tube until the cement has set.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figures 1 and 1a are an end and plan view of the celluloid blank;

Figures 2 and 2a are end and elevational views of the blank partially applied to the metallic tube, the end portions of the metal tube being exposed because in the case of golf shafts the larger end of the tapered tube is wrapped with a suitable material to form a hand grip and the smaller end is adapted to beset in the hosel of the golf club head;

Figures 3 and 3a are an end and elevational View of the celluloid covered tube held in the clamps for the purpose of heating and cooling the celluloid;

Figures 4 and 4a are similar views, with the clamps removed and the celluloid tube displaced somewhat longitudinally of the metal tube for the purpose of inserting the reinforcing strip;

Figures 5 and 5a are similar views with the reinforcing strip in place;

Figures 6 and 6a are like views with the reinforcing strip and celluloid tube clamped around the metal tube; and

1929. Serial No. 399,077

Figures '7 and 7a are similar views of the finished article, Figure 7a being somewhat enlarged.

As is understood, metallic tubes constituting golf club shafts are tapered from the hand grip end portion toward the end to be inserted in the golf club head. As a consequence, in carrying out the present invention, the celluloid sheet or blank 10 is cut to the right taper, as shown in Figure 1, and then, as illustrated in Figure 2, partially placed around the metal tube 11, leaving exposed the end portions of the latter that are to constitute the hand grip portion and the end portion that is to be inserted and secured in the club head. This celluloid sheet is then clamped around the metal tube by suitable clamping means, these clamps, indicated at 12, preferably engaging the sheet of celluloid throughout its entire length, as shown in Figure 3. Before the clamps 12 are fully closed around the sheet of celluloid and tube, said celluloid is heated to render it more pliable, this heating preferably being accomplished by immersing the assembled parts in hot water. While immersed, the clamps are fully closed, so that the sheet of celluloid is formed into a perfect tube, fitting snugly around the metallic shaft with its longitudinal edges abutting one another. After the celluloid sheet has been pressed around the tube in this fashion, the several assembled parts are then immersed in cold water, chilling the celluloid and causing it to set so that it will not have a tendency to spring away from the metal tube when the clamps 12 are removed. I

The celluloid sheet having thus been caused to assume the shape of the metal tube, the clamps are removed and the abutting edges of the celluloid united. This is preferably accomplished by inserting beneath the abutting edge portions, between the celluloid sheet and tube, a reinforcing strip 13 of celluloid, and applying a suitable celluloid cement to said strip and the abutting edges of the sheet. To facilitate insertion of the reinforcing celluloid strip 13, the celluloid tube is moved a short distance along the metallic tube toward the smaller end of the latter, as shown in Figure l, thereby providing a slight clearance to accommodate the reinforcing strip being inserted. After the strip has thus been inserted, the celluloid tube can be moved back to its former position, or substantially so, as the strip is comparatively thin. For instance, the tube itself is made of celluloid of approximately .025 gauge, while the strip used for joining the seamis only about 110 one-quarter inch wide and approximately .010

inch thick. The composite tube is then inserted endwise in a tapered metal sleeve 14, as shown in Figures 6 and 6a, the inside diameter of this sleeve conforming to the outside diameter of the celluloid tube. Previous to the insertion of the tube in the sleeve, a suitable celluloid cement, such as that carried in stock by celluloid makers, for instance, acetone, is applied to the reinforcing strip 13 and the abutting edge portions of the tube. The sleeve 14 holds the celluloid in place while the cement is drying, and permits the metallic tube to be driven into the celluloid tube to make a very tight fit without any liability of separating the seam of the celluloid tube. After this has been done, the composite shaft is left in the sleeve for about twenty-four hours, ample time for the cement to dry, after which the steel sleeve may be removed. The only remaining operation is to then give the celluloid tube a bufiing on a soft wheel. The finished, so-called, composite tube is shown in Figures '7 and 7a, la being an enlarged cross section wherein the space between the metallic tube and the portion of the celluloid tube that is raised by the celluloid reinforcing strip, is somewhat exaggerated.

A metallic tubular shaft thus constructed is no subject to corrosion, as often occurs where steel shafted golf clubs are used while it is raining and are placed in lockers or put away without being properly cared for. Again, by the use of the celluloid covering or sheath, a very neat appearance can be given the shaft. It will, of course, be understood that while the invention has been described in connection with golf club shafts, it is equally applicable to other uses.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of making celluloid covered 7, metallic tubes which consists in shaping a sheet of celluloid around a metallic tube in the presence of heat, with the longitudinal edges of said celluloid sheet abutting one another, then cooling said celluloid, inserting a reinforcing strip between the celluloid tube and metallic tube, along the seam formed by said abutting edges, and cementing said strip and edges together.

2. The method of making celluloid covered metallic tubes which consists in shaping the sheet of celluloid around a metallic tube in the presence of heat, with the longitudinal edges of said sheet abutting eachother, cooling the celluloid to set the same, applying a reinforcing strip beneath the seam formed by said abutting edges, cementing said strip and abutting edges together, and holding said celluloid tube. on said metallic tube under pressure until the cement has dried.

3. Tie method of making tapered celluloid tubes which consists in wrapping a sheet of celluloid around the exterior surface of a form of tapering cross-section with the longitudinal edges of the celluloid abutting, heating the same, and applying pressure thereto to shape the celluloid to said form, chilling the celluloid to set the same on said form, inserting a reinforcing strip under the seam formed by said abutting edges, and cementing the same and holding the tube and strip on said form until the cement has set.

4. The method of making tapered celluloid tubes which consists in wrapping a sheet of celluloid around a form with the edges thereof abutting, heating the same and applying pressure thereto to shape it to said form, chilling the celluloid to set the same on said form, partially removing the celluloid tube longitudinally from said form, placing a celluloid reinforcing strip beneath the seam formed by said abutting edges, andcementing the strip and butting edge portions of the sheet together.

5. The method of making celluloid covered tapered metallic tubes which consists in Wrapping a, sheet of celluloid around a metallic tube with the edges of said sheet abutting each other, heat ing the same and applying pressure to said sheet to shape it to said tube, chilling the celluloid to set the same on said tube, partially'removing the shaped. celluloid longitudinally from said tube, placing a celluloid reinforcing strip along the inner surface of the seam formed by the abutting edges of the celluloid, and cementing the strip and abutting side edges of said sheet together.

6. The method of making celluloid covered metallic tubes which consists in wrapping a sheet of celluloid around a metal tube with the edges of the celluloid abutting each other, heating and applying pressure to said sheet of celluloid to shape it to said tube, chilling the celluloid to set the same on said tube, inserting a reinforcing strip between said metallic tube and applied celluloid beneath the seam formed by said abutting edges, applying celluloid cement to said strip and adjacent edge portions of the applied sheet of celluloid, and holding said strip and sheet on said metallic tube under pressure until the cement has dried.

'7. The method of making tapered celluloid covered metallic tubes which consists in wrapping a sheet of celluloid around at tapered metallic tube with the edges of said celluloid abutting each other, heating and applying pressure to the celluloid to shape it to said tube, reducing the temperature of the celluloid to set'the same on said tube, moving the tube and celluloid longitudinally with respect to each other placing a reinforcing celluloid strip along inner surface of the seam formed by said abutting. edge portions of said sheet, and wedging the metal tube in the celluloid tube while said cement dries.

8. A tubular metallic golf shaft having a sheet of celluloid applied thereto with the edges of said sheet abutting one another, and a reinforcing strip of celluloid cemented to the abutting edge portions of said celluloid sheet between the latter and said metallic tube.

HERBERT C. LAGERBLADE. 

